Automatic regulator



June 24, 1930. wfn. DREISKE AUTOMATIC REGULATOR Original F iled Jan. 12, 1928 fie v 07 mpDmzs/m Patented June 24, 1930 UNITED STATES WILLIAM D. DREISKE, OF OAK PARK, ILLINOIS AUTOMATIC REGULATOR Application filed January 12, 1928, Serial No. 246,142. Renewed March 11, 1929.

This invention relates to automatic governing apparatus in general, but more particularly to apparatus of this kind for automatically controlling a boiler furnace damper, thereby to maintain, as nearly as possible, any desired or given steam pressure.

Generally stated,-the object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved construction and arrangement whereby the automatic control will be more satisfactory, and more nearly uniform, than heretofore, by the use not only of first and second compensating devices, but also by the use of a third compensating device for directly modifying the action of the second coinpensating device, and for thereby indirectly modifying the action of the first compensating device.

It is also an object to provide certain details and features of construction and combinations tending to increase the general efiiciencyand the desirability of an automatic controlling apparatus of this particular character.

To these and other useful ends, the invention consists in the matters hereinafter set forth and claimed, and shown in the accompanying drawings, in which the single figure is a side elevation, partly in section, and more or less diagrammatic in character, of an automatic controlling apparatus embodying the principles of the invention.

As thus illustrated, the invention comprises a piston in a cylinder 1, as shown, the piston having a rod 2 that moves up and down in the usual and well known manner. To control the valve mechanism of the piston and cylinder, enclosed in the valve box 3, the valve rod 1 is connected to a link 5 which is provided at 6 with a movable fulcrum which is pivoted at 7, at its other end, on one end of the bell crank 8, which latter is fulcrumed at 9 on some suitable portion of the cylinder structure. The lower end of the bell crank is provided with a roller 10 and with a lug 11 that engage the vertically movable secondary compensating device 12, which latter in turn engages the vertically movable primary compensating device 13, the latter being connected at 14, at its upper end, with the said piston rod 2, so that the device 13 moves up and down in unison with the piston. The device 12 has a groove 15 therein, with a stop shoulder 16 at its upper end, and a similar stop shoulder 17 at its lower end, the lug 11 traveling in this groove, the relative movement between the lug and the device 12 being limited by said stop shoulders. The roller 10 rides on the edge of the device 12, as the latter is moved up and down by its frictional engagement with the vertically reciprocating device 13. When the lug strikes either shoulder 16 or 17 the vertical move ment of the device 1.2 stops, and thereafter only the device 13 continues to move with the piston rod. A spring 18 bears against the bell crank 8 to provide the desired friction between the device 12 and the device 13, the latter sliding up and down in a stationary vertical guide 19 provided for this purpose. It will be seen that the left-hand edges of the devices 12 and 13 are inclined, so that they are not exactly vertical, whereby the movement upward of the device 13 tends to push the roller 10 to the left, thus in turn forcing the valve rod 4: downward to control the valve mechanism in the desired manner.

A diaphragm pressure-responsive device 20 is provided, at the lower end of the rigid cylinder structure, of any suitable character, to receive steam or other pressure through the pipe 21 provided for this purpose. The diaphragm is provided with a knife edge 22 that bears against the under side of the lever 23, the latter being fulcrumed at 24: on the bracket 25 which is rigid with the cylinder structure. A rod 26 connects this counterbalance lever .23 with the pivot or fulcrum 6 previously mentioned, and the said counterbalance lever has an adjustable weight 27 to be adjusted thereon in the usual and well known manner. A flexible connection 28 connects the upper end of the piston rod 2 with the damper 29, in the manner shown, so that when a pull is exerted on this connection 28, by downward movement of the piston in the cylinder 1, the

damper is opened more widely, while upward movement of the piston rod 2 will cause the closing movement of the damper. This construction may all be in accordance as will be seen, with the disclosure of prior United States Patent No. 1,598,270, granted August 31, 1926, to William D. Dreislre, for automatic damper regulator.

The previously mentioned third compensating device comprises a frame 30 hung by a rod 31 on the lower end of the device 13 previously mentioned. A rod 32 connects the lower end of the device 12 with the upper end of the piston rod 33, which latter has a piston head 34 on the lower end thereof in a cylinder 35 containing a liquid, the two ends of this cylinder having a by-pass 36 with a regulating valve 37 therein, thus forming a dashpot device. A counterbalance weight 38 is provided to slide up and down on the piston rod 33, and this weight is connected by a flexible connection 39 with the upper end of the piston rod, this flexible connection 39 being trained over a stationary sheave 40 mounted on the cylinder structure, as illustrated. Thus the upward and downward movements of the device 13 are retarded more or less by the dashpot formed by the piston head 34 and the cylinder 35, and the relative movement between the device 12 and the device 13 is similarly modified or controlled. When the device 13 moves downward, the piston head- 34 moves toward the upper end of the cylinder 35, and when the device 13 moves upward, the piston head 34 moves toward the lower end of the cylinder 35, in a manner that will be readily understood, and the motion is controlled or retarded in any desired manner by adjusting the valve 37 of the by-pass of the dashpot device thus provided. Through the rod 32, the weight 38 and the said clashpot arrangement exert the desired control over the secondary compensating device 12, whereby the third compensating device directly modifies the action of the device 12, and through the latter indirectly modifies the action of the device 13, in a manner that will be readily understood, thereby to more evenly or more satisfactorily control the damper 29,'or any other suitable means to be controlled.

In use, the lowering of the pressure in the diaphragm device 20 will allow the weight 27 to move downward by gravity, thus pulling the rod 26 downward, and thereby moving the valve rod 4 downward, thus controlling the valve mechanism and the valve box 3 in the desired manner to further open the damper 29 to thereby bring the steam pressure up again to the required point. When the pressure becomes too great, the added pressure in the diaphragm device 20 will raise the weight 27, thus again actuating the valve rod 4 and controlling the valve mechanism for the purpose of thereby causing the damper 29 to have a closing movement. In each case, the movement of the damper is governed by the action of the primary and secondary compensating devices 12 and 13, but as modified by the third compensating device, which is supported by the rods 31 and 32 in the manner previously described. Thus the pressure in the boiler having the stack or smoke flue in which the damper 29 is located is automatically governed, and maintained more nearly at the desired degree of pressure, by the use of the first and second compensating devices, and by the use of the third compensating device, in the manner shown and described.

It will be understood, of course,that while the automatic controlling apparatus is shown as being used for the purpose of controlling a boiler furnace damper, it can nevertheless be used for controlling any suitable or desired means, without de arting from the spirit of the invention. ikewise, while a fluid pressure motor, comprising a piston in the cylinder 1, is employed as the motive power for automatically controlling the damper or other suitable means, it is obvious that a motor of any suitable or desired character can be employed for this purpose.

It will be seen, therefore, that the clashpot arrangement shown and described, comprising the piston or plunger 34 and the cylinder 35, and the elements associated therewith, constitutes a compensating means for modifying the action of another compensating means, and this dash-pot arrange- .ment or compensating means is adapted to remain in action after the motor piston 2 has stopped, thereby to again start said motor, whereby the pressure is eventually restored to a predetermined point, or the desired point, in the fluid pressure operated means 20, as shown and described. The cylinder and piston 1 and 2 are a motor, of course, and the dash-pot compensating device is adapted to remain in action after said motor has stopped, thus modifying the action of the compensating means on the bar 13, and again startingthe motor, whereby the fiuid pressure in the fluid pressure operated means 20 is eventually restored to the desired point.

lVithout disclaiming anything, and without prejudice to any novelty disclosed, what I claim as my invention is:

1. In an automatic damper regulator for boiler furnaces, subject to control by the variation of the boiler pressure, the combination of a piston, a damper controlled by said piston, valve mechanism to control fluid pressure to operate said piston, means mechanism, and auxiliary compensating device acting conjointly with said main compensating device to control the action of said damper regulator, together with a third compensating device for directly modifying the action of said auxiliary compensating device and operative thereby to indirectly modify the action of said main compensating device.

2. A structure as specified in claim 1, said main compensating device comprising a relatively long tapered bar, a fulcrum member having engaging means, and said auxiliary compensating device comprising a shorter bar inserted like a wedge between said first mentioned bar and said engaging means, said shorter bar having the greater angle, and said third compensating device comprising a dashpot and counterbalance weight arrangement having separate connections to said main and auxiliary compensating devices.

3. A structure as specified in claim 1,said main compensating device comprising a relatively long tapered bar, 'a fulcrum member provided with means tending to engage the angular edge of said bar, and said auxiliary compensating device comprising a sliding member interposed between said bar and said engaging means, and said third com pensating device comprising a dashpot and counterbalance weight arrangement having separate connections to said main and auxiliary compensating devices.

i. A structure as specified in claim 1, said main compensating device comprisingarelatively long tapered bar, a fulcrum member having means to engage the angular edge of said bar, said bar being movable up and down by the action of said piston, and said auxiliary compensating device comprising a relatively short tapered bar inserted like a wedge between said relatively long bar and said engaging means, said relatively short bar having means to limit the up and down movement thereof, whereby the up and down movement of said auxiliary compensating device is less than the up and down movement of said relatively long bar, and said third compensating device comprising a dashpot and counterbalance weight arrangement having separate connections to said main and auxiliary compensating devices.

5. A structure as specified in claim 1, said main compensating device comprising a movable member and instrumentalities subj ect to control by movement of said member to govern the action of said valve mechanism, and said auxiliary device comprising means interposed to change the effect of the movement of said member, so that the main compensating device and the auxiliary compensating device co-operate to produce a result different from that which the main compensating device would be capable of producing "alone, and said third compensating device comprising a dashpot and counterbalance weight arrangement having separate connections to said main and auxiliary compensating devices.

6. In a regulator, in combination with means to be controlled thereby, the combination of a primary compensating device, and a secondary compensating device, each dependent on the other, the one device acting conjointly with and through the other device to automatically govern the action of said regulator, whereby to automatically regulate said means to be controlled in the desired manner, together with a third compensating device acting directly to modify the action of said secondary compensating device, thereby operative indirectly to modity the action of said primary compensating device.

7. A structure as specified in claim 6, said primary compensating device comprising a vertically disposed bar having an inclined edge, and said secondary compensating device comprising a shorter bar sliding on said inclined edge, together with means to engage the secondary compensating device, said third compensating device comprising dashpot means operative to retard the action of said primary compensating device.

8. A structure as specified in claim 6, said primary compensating device comprising a member of suitable length, means whereby said member is movable endwise, and said secondary compensating device comprising a member which is slidable upon and longitudinally of said other member, together with means having traveling engagement with one edge of said secondary compensating device, said third compensating device comprising dashpot means operative to retard the action of said primary compensating device.

9. A regulator and means controlled thereby, having primary and secondary compensating devices, acting conjointly and one through the other to automatically govern the action of said regulator, whereby to govern said means to be controlled, substantially as described, together with a third compensating device acting directly to modify the action of said secondary compensating device, thereby operative indirectly to modify'the action of said primary compensating device.

10. In an automatic regulator for boiler furnaces, subject to control by the variation of the boiler pressure, the combination of an actuator, instrumentalities controlled by said actuator, mechanism to control said actuator, means controlled by the boiler pressure to control said mechanism, a main compensating device to govern the action oi said mechanism, and an auxiliary comiii,

pensating device acting conjointly with said main compensating device to control the action of said regulator, together with a third compensating device acting directly to modify the action of said secondary compensating device, thereby operative indirectly to modify the action of said primary compensating device.

11. A structure as specified in claim 10, said main compensating device comprising a relatively long tapered bar, a fulcrum member having engaging means, and said auxiliary compensating device comprising a shorter bar inserted like a wedge between said first mentioned bar and said engaging means, said shorter bar having the greater angle, said third compensating device comprising a counterbalance weight and means causing movement thereof to control or modify the action of said secondary compensating device.

12. A structure as specified in claim 10, said main compensating device comprising a relatively long tapered bar, a fulcrum member provided with means tending to engage the angular edge of said bar, and said auxiliary compensating device comprising a sliding member interposed between said bar and said engaging means, said third compensating device comprising a counterbalance weight and means causing movement thereof to control or modify the action of said secondary compensating device.

13. A structure as specified in claim 10, said main compensating device comprising a relatively lon tapered bar, a fulcrum memher having means to engage the angular ed e of said bar, said bar being movable by tie action of said actuator, and said auxiliary compensating device comprising a relatively short tapered bar inserted like a wedge between said relatively long bar and said engaging means, said relatively short bar having means to limit the movement thereof, whereby the movement of said auxiliary compensating device is less than the movement of said relatively long bar, said third compensating device comprising a counterbalance weight and means causing movement thereof to control or modify the action of said secondary compensating device.

14. A structure as specified in claim 10, said main compensating device comprising a movable member and means subject to control by movement of said member to govern the action of said mechanism, and said auxiliary device comprising means interposed to change the effect of the movement of said member, so that the main compensating device and the auxiliary compensating device co-operate toproduce a result different from that which the main compensating device would be capable of producing alone, said third compensating device comprising a counterbalance weight and means causing movement thereof to control or modify the action of said secondary compensating device.

15. A fluid pressure operated regulator and means controlled thereby, comprising a motor, fluid pressure operated means having compensating means, and a dashpot compensating device for modifying the action of said compensating means.

16. A fluid pressure operated regulator and means controlled thereby, comprising 'a motor, fluid pressure operated means havlng compensating means, and a motivated com pensatin device for modifying the action of said compensating means after said motor has stopped, thereby to again start said motor.

17. A fluid pressure operated regulator and means controlled thereby, comprising a motor, fluid pressure operated means having compensating means, and a compensating device for modifying the action of said compensating means, operable to remain in action after said motor has stopped, thereby to again start said motor.

18. In automatic controlling apparatus, in combination with means to be controlled, a motor for operating said means, a pressure operated controller for stopping and starting said motor, a compensating device operated by said motor, and instrumentalities opera-' tive to actuate said compensating device while said motor is not in operation, after said motor has stopped, thereby to again start said motor.

19. A structure as specified in claim 18, said compensating device comprising a counterbalance arm with a weight movable along said arm.

20. A structure as specified in claim 18, said compensating device comprising a counterbalance arm with a weight movable along said arm, and said instrumen'talities having a connection by which to move said weight while said arm is in normal position.

Specification signed this 7th day of January, 1928.

WVILLIAM D. DREISKE. 

